Shonda Rhimes Teases the Way forward for Gray’s Anatomy – E! On-line

As for a way Shonda felt saying goodbye to Ellen Pompeo, who departed from the present in Feb. 2023 after eighteen years? As she put it, “Having Ellen depart was heartbreaking for everyone, but additionally figuring out that she may come again anytime was additionally vital for me.”

Shonda famous that she wished to “make certain everyone understood that the door’s at all times open—for any of our previous characters” by leaving Meredith Gray’s exit open-ended.

“Ellen’s a tremendous individual and she or he and I’ve been having conversations the entire time, discussing when it was time and what it was feeling like,” Shonda mentioned of the actress’ departure. “We have at all times been having these discussions as a result of I’ve at all times wished her to be excited and invested and having fun with herself as a lot as she was initially.”

The Queen Charlotte showrunner added that it was time for Meredith to maneuver on in order that Ellen can “discover new inventive issues.”

“It was slightly of a heartbreaking second, however it was additionally a second—for me—that she’s not gone as a result of she’s coming again,” she mentioned. “I do not consider her as gone from the present, she’s nonetheless doing the voiceovers, she’s nonetheless there.”